Photo by All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Williams outduels Maye as the Bears hold off the Patriots 30-24

Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns as the Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots 30-24 on Thursday night at Soldier Field. Chicago moves to 5-2. New England, which had won three straight, falls to 4-3.

The game was a duel between two young quarterbacks. Williams, in his second game back from a right hamstring injury, completed 22 of 33 passes and became the first Bears quarterback since Mitch Trubisky in 2018 to throw for 300 yards in consecutive games.

Drake Maye was just as productive in volume, completing 24 of 31 for 321 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw an interception in the end zone in the first half.

Luther Burden was the difference. He caught four passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, a 24-yard screen on third-and-17 with 14 seconds left in the first half that made it 20-7.

Colston Loveland added a 12-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. For New England, Rhamondre Stevenson caught a 48-yard touchdown pass over the top of Chicago's coverage on the final play of the third quarter, and Eli Raridon added a 30-yard touchdown catch.

Cairo Santos missed a 53-yard field goal, then made a 58-yarder with 1:34 left, matching the franchise record. Andy Borregales cut it to six with a 47-yard kick for New England with 37 seconds left, but Chicago recovered the onside kick to end it.

It was Chicago's first home game since Mike Ditka died on 9 October. The Bears held a moment of silence before kickoff, and fans wore Ditka-style sweaters and No. 89 jerseys.

Injuries to watch: Bears cornerback Malik Muhammad (toe) and tight end Cole Kmet (right knee) left the game. For the Patriots, safety Kevin Byard was checked in the first half and returned, and defensive tackle Christian Barmore left late.

The Patriots play at Miami on 1 November; the Bears are at Seattle on Monday night, 2 November.

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